Ordnance.



W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANGE. APPLIGATON FILED 111111.12, 1910.

1,973,298. l Patented sept. 16,1913.

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W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12, 1910. 1,073,298. Patented sept. 16,1913.

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ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12, 1910.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

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WILLIAM n. SMITH, 0F WASHINGTQN, vinsmeren: or COLUMBIA, AssIGNon,y 'row. D. SMITH OBDNANOE COMPANY, Or I'Irrseunon, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION vor DELAWARE.

ORDNNCE.

' Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.. i6, i 9i 3.

Amma@ and .March 12, 194e. serial No. 545,974.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SMITH, of Washingtom in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IOrdnance, ofwhich the Afollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing 'had to the accompanying draw ings, formi-ng ,part of ,thisspecification.

This invention relates to ordnance of .the breech loading type which isprovided with a mushroom head, wherein it is .customary to "provide agas check between the breech block and the mushroom head to prevent theescape of the gases rearwardly through .the breech of the gun.

The Object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and eiiicientmechanism to :flush the gun after it .has been tired and before thebreech lblock has been translated, without materially changing thegeneral type of guns now in use.

Another .object .of my invention isto .proj `vide mechanism which willautomatically open .a lvalve and .admit fluid pressure behind themushroom head to advance it and .allow fluid to pass out between the gascheck and the mushroom head, to cool the pad and flush the gun.

Another object of my invention is to provide nleans for sealing theopening in the breech containing the breech block, gto prevent. therearward escape of gas and fluid pressure after the breech,.bl ock hasbeen rotated to loosen the gas check to allow fluid pressure to passbetween the .gas check land the bore of the gun.

Still another Object of my invention Ais to provide means -t'oradmitting `a proper lubricant into the breech Ot the gun, which will beforced over the .gas check into the bore of the gun by the fluidpressure.

The precise nat-ure of my invention will be best understood by referenceto :the accompanying drawings, which will .now be described, it beingpremised, however, that various changes may be made in the vdetails oi'construction and general arrangement of the parts without departing fromthe, spirit and scope of .my invention as defined .in 4the appendedclaims.

in the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a plan view oit the breech,portion .of a gun equipped .with one form of my mproxted the is beinginitially flushed. Fig. 5A

is a view similar to Fig.v 4 showing the breech block rotated topartially withdraw the gas check and allow fluid to be forced overthegas check. Fig. 6 is a View similal` to Fig. 3, sh.o WLI1g .a modifiedarrangement and showing .the parts in the position they assume when thegun is being flushed. Fig. 7 `is a .View similar to Fig. 4, showing amodified arrangementof ports in the stem of the ,mushroom head, and Fig.8 is a sectional View on the line VIH-VIII of Fig. 7.

In Figs. -1 .to 5, the numeral 2 designates the A'breech portion of thegun, which is adapted to receive .the threaded breech block 3 of theordinary type. 4 is a mushroom head having a spindle -5 which extendsthrough an Orifice in the breech block 3. Surrounding the stem 5 andinterposed between the mushroom head 4 and the breech block 3 is a gascheck 6 of any well known construction, and 7 is a `follower' plateinterposed between the gas check and the breech block. Mounted near theend of the spindle 5 of the mushroom head is a vcollar 8 which is heldfrom longitudinal movement o-n the spindle. Surrounding the spindle andinterposed between the collar 8 and the breech block is a spring 9,arranged to normally hold the mushroom head against the gas check. Theinner vportions of .the threads for Securing the breech .block are outaway Eto a depth equal to the depth of the threads as shown -at 10, andthe forward portion .of the breech block .is cut away to form a chamberl1, between the ,breech block and the Offset between .the bore of thegun and :the enlarged recess for the breech block. 12

lis a split packing ring in the cut-away porblock through which the stemof the mushwith an annular groove 15, and 1G are ports.

or inlets whichl connect with the annular groove and extend inwardlythrough the stem 5 to a point slightly to the rear of the gas checkwhenthe mushroom head is in its rearward or firing position, as shown inFig. 3. lVhcn the mushroom head is advanced into the bore of the gun theports will admit pressure to the bore of the gun between the mushroomhead and the gas check, as shown in Fig. 4. y The chambers 11 and 13areconnected to each other by means of the radially disposed channels 17in the breech block. Surrounding the body of the gun is a fluid pressurepipe 18, 'and extending radially through the body of the gun are thechannels 19. The outer end of each of .these channels is connected bymeans of a pipe 20 with the pressure pipe 18, and 21 are short tubesextending fromv the inner ends of these channels into the chamber 11.The inner ends of these tubes are bent inwardly so as to direct thefluid pressure over the gas check, as shown in Fig. 5. 23 is a pressureinlet pipe leading from any suitable source of pressure supply to thepressure pipe 18, and 24 is a valve in the pipe 23 arranged to open andclose the connections between the pipes 18 and 23. Mounted on the top oftherbreechof the gun is a tank 25 adapted to hold a lubricant forlubricating the bore of the gun. 27 is a pipe connecting the pressurei-nlet pipe 23 with the tank 25, and is provided with a valve 27 to cutoff the pressure from the pressure inletv pipe when desired. 28 is apipe which is connected to the -lower ends of the tank, and to thepressure pipe 18. 29 is a valve for adjusting the flow of lubricant fromthe-tank 25 to the pressure pipe 18, and 30 is a valve in the pipe 28for opening and closing the connection through the pipe 28, from thetank 25 to the pressure pipe 18.

I have -shown mechanism for automatically opening and closing the valves24 and j 30 after the-gun -has been fired, and which will now bedescribed, it being understood, however, that the valves may be openedand closed by hand if desirable. It will also be understood that thelubricant may be supplied from any suitable source instead of from atank mounted on the gun. Connected to any stationary portion of the gunis a rod 31, having a downwardly projecting pin 32, and which is in theline of movement of a lever 33 connected to the stem of the valve 24.Pivotally connected to the valve lever 33, and slidably mounted on theguides 34 and 35 on the is a s rin ressed rod 36 the outerendgdilwhichpis grgvided with :i downwardly rojecting arm 37. Slidablymounted on t e rear of the gun is a latch bar 38. This latch bar ismounted so as to slide-concentric with relation to the bore of the gun,on the screws or being provided with suitable slots through which thescrews pass to permit such movement.

is a-spring bearing against one end of the latch bar-'to hold it in theposition shown' in Fig. 2, and41 is a cam face'at the other end of thelatch bar, and is arranged to retain the rod in its forward positionwhen the valve 24 has been opened by the recoil of the gun. Connected tothe outer end of the stem of the valve 30 is a lever 42, having a slotand pin connection with a Spring actuated lever 43, ivoted to the rearend of the gun. Pivotal mounted on the outer face of the breech b ock isa lspring actuated lever 44, having a pin 45 in line with one end of thelever` 43, and lis arranged to actuate said lever to open the valve 30when the breech block is rotated a predetermined distance and to passbeyond the lever and allow the valve to be closed by means of the springconnected to said lever, just before the breech block has rotated therequired distance to free its threaded engagement with the breech of thegun. l

47 is a pin on the latch bar and is in line of movement of the lever 43,and is adapted to be struck by the lever just before the pin 45 passesbeyond said lever, to. shift the latch bar and allow the springconnected to the rod 36 to shift said rod and close the valve24, justprior to the translation of the breech block.

48 is a hand hold which is connected to the latch bar 38 for shifting itby hand to reins 39, the barl lease the rod 36 when it is desired to doso.

Th-e operation is as follows: The various parts of the gun before firing'are in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, in which the endof the valve lever 33 is in contact with the pin 32, on the rod 31. Assoon as the gun recoils, the lever 33 will be shifted to open the, valve24, and admit pressure to the chambersv 11 and 13. The movement of thelever 33 will draw the rod 36 against the action of its spring, and thearm 37 thereof will strike the cam face 41 of the latch bar 38 and moveit against the action of its spring 40.- When the end 37 of this rod haspassed the latch bar, the spring 40 will force the latch bar into theposition to lock the rod against the action of its spring, and hold thevalve 24 in its open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The pressure in thechamber 13 will act on the enlarged portion of the-stemof themushroomhead and force it into the bore of the gun, as shown in Fig. 4. Thefluid pressure passes through the groove 15 and ports 16, and thence tothe bore of the gun between the gas check and the mushroom head,- toiush the gun. The

' breech block is now rotated a sufficient distance to allow the pin 45to engage and move the lever 43 to open the valve 30,- and also torelease the gas check, and allow pressure to escape from the chamber 1linto the bore of the gun over the gas check, thereby reducing thepressure inthe chamber 13. The spring 9 will draw the mushroomrearwardly against the gas check, as shown in Fig. G. The opening of thevalve 30 will allow the lubricant to pass into the tubes 21 and it willbe blown over the gas check into the bore of the gun by means of the'luid pressure. It may here be stated that the lubricant in the tank 25is under pressure by means of the pipe 26 which connects it with thepressure inlet pipe. During the rotary movement of the breech block atight joint is maintained between it and the chamber 11 by means of thepacking ring 12, which is forced back with the breech block by thepressure in the chamber 11, such rearward movement being permitted bythe cut away portion 10. After the gun has been properly flushed andlubricated, the breech block is rotated sufficiently to clear thethreads on the breech block from the threads in the breech of the gun,as Well known in the art. Just prior to the complete rotary movement ofthe breech block the pin 47 on the latch bar will be struck and the barmoved by means o f the lever 43, which will release the rod 36 and allowits spring to act and close the valve 24; and shortly after thereleasing of the rod 36 and just prior to the complete rotary movementof the breech block, the pin 45 will pass`beyond the lever 48, and allowits spring to close the valve 30. After the breech block has beenrotated a sufhcient distance to clear the threads in the breech of thegun, the

L breech block is translated, and the gun is reloaded. The breech blockis now replaced in the breech of the gun, the lever 44 being rocked onits pivot during the engagement between the pin 45 and lever 43, whenscrewing the breech block into place. If desired th-e rod 31 and thelever 44 may be removed and the valves opened and closed by hand.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, I have shown the parts in t-he samepositions as shown in Fig. 5, and I have used the same referencenumerals to designate similar parts with the letter a added thereto. Inthis figure I have eliminated the ports connecting the chamber 13 withthe chamber 11. A tight joint is maintained between the breech block andthe opening in the breech in which it is seated by means of one or morepacking rings 50, which are held in place by means of a ring 51 securedto the breech block. The operation of this construction is the same asthat shown in Figs. 1 to 5, excepting that the gun is not initiallyflushed by advancing the mushroom head,^but is flushed and lubricatedduring the first portion of the rotation of the breech bloc.' s'

ln Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modifiedv arrangement of ports foradmitting pressure from the chamber 11b to the chamber 13b. In thesefigures I have also used the same reference numerals with the letteradded thereto, to designate similar parts. In this construction pressureis admitted from the chamber 11b to the chamber 13b through the grooves52 in the follower plate 7", and the grooves 53 on the stem 5b of themushroom head. The operation of the device 4shown in this constructionis precisely the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of a fluidpressure chamber in the breech of the gun and in front of the breechblock, which Yis sealed to prevent the rearward escape of the pressurebetween the breech block and the Walls of thc recess in which it isseated, during the rotation of the breech block for removal therefrom.Another advantage results from the provision of means for injecting iuidpressure over the gas check into the bore of the gun to flush the gun;and to cool the gas check or pad, and the gun. Also in the provision ofmeans for supplying a lubricant to pressure inlet Itubes to lubricatethe gun. Still another advantage results from the provision of means foropening and closing the valves controlling the pressure inlet pipe andthe lubricant feeding pipe, after the tiring of the gun and before thebreech block has been rotated asuiicient distance to release it from thebreech of the gun, prior to the translation thereof, and before thepressure chamber has been opened to the atmosphere through the breech ofthe gun. Still a further advantage results from the provision of meansfor automatically advancing the mushroom head by Huid pressure after thegun has been fired to initially Hush and cool the gun, before the breechblock has been rotated.

I claim:

l. In a gun, a mushroom head having a spindle, a iuid inlet portarranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroom head,means to supply fluid pressure to said port, and means actuated by theHuid pressure to advance the mushroom head to open the port to iiush thegun; substantially as described.

2. In a gun, a breech block, a valve having a spindle, a pressurechamber within the breech block, there being a {iuid inlet port arrangedto be opened and closed by the movement of the valve, means to supplyfluid pressure to said chamber, and a p18-,

t0n in said chamber arranged to be actuated by the fluid pressure to-shift the valve to open the port to flush the gun; substantially asdescribed. v

In a gun, a mushroom head havlng a spindle, a fluid inlet port arrangedto be opened and closed by the movement of a mushroom head, a p1stonconnected to the spindle of the mushroom head, and means to admit fluidpressure back of said'piston to advance the mushroom head to open theport to flush the gun; substantially as described.

4. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber 1n the breech of the gun, aportion olts walls being formed by the breech block when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun.l a packing ring arranged toseal .the opening between the breech block and the wall of the openingin which the breech block is seated, means to supply fluid pressure tosaid chamber, a gas check, the breech block being arrangedv to be movedrearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fluidpressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the sealformed by the packing ring 'is broken, substantially as described.

5. In a gun, a breech block, a c amber in the breech of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block, when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun, a packing` ring in saidchamber arranged to follow the breech block when it is rotated to sealthe opening between the breech block and the wall of the open-V ing inthe gun in which the block is seated, a mushroom head, means to supplyluid pressure to said chamber, a gas check between the mushroom head andthe breech block, the mushroom head being arranged to withdraw the gascheck when the breech block is drawn rearwardly to allow the fluidpressure to pass over the periphery of the gas check into the bore ofthe gun; substantially as described.

6. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech' of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun, means to supply fluid pressureto said chamber, a valveffor controlling the fluid pressure, a packingring arranged to seal the opening between the breech block and the wallof the opening 1n which the breech block is seated, a gas check, thebreech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gascheck to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over thegas check to cool the gun before the seal formedby the packing ring isbroken; substantially as described.

7. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech `of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block Amoved rearwardlyto permit the 'when the breech block' is seated in the breech of thegun, means to supply fluid pressure lo said chamber, a valve forcontrolling the fluid pressure, a packing ring arranged to seal theopenin between the breech block and the wall o the opening in which thebreech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged tobe moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allowthe fluid pressure to pass over the gas check -to cool the gun beforethe seal formed by the packing ring is broken, and means controlled bythe recoil of the gun for Opening the valve; substantially as described.

8. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breechblock is seated in the breech ofthe gun, means to supply fluid pressureto said chamber, a valve for controlling the fluid pressure, a packingring arranged to sealy the opening between the breech block and the wallof the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, thebreech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gascheck to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over thegas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring isbroken, and meansl for automatically opening and closing the valve;substantially as described.

9. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun, a pressure supply pipe forsaid chamber, a lubricant supply pipe connected to said pressure supplypipe, a packing ring arranged to seal the. opening between the breechblock and the wall ofthe opening in which the breech block is seated, agas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly topermit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow `the fluid pressure topass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by thepacking ring is broken; substantially as described.

l0. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, aportion of its walls being formed by the breech block, when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun, a pressure supply pipe forsaid chamber, a lubricant supply pipe connected to said pressure supplypipe, a valve for controlling the fluid pressure, a valve in thelubricant supply pipe, a packing ring arranged to seal `the openingbetween the breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breechblock is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be ascheck t0 move rearwardly to allow the uid pressure to pass over the gascheck to cool the f gun before the seal formed by the packing ring isbroken; substantially as described` ll. In a gun, a breech biock, achamber in the breech of the mln, a. portion of its walls being formedby tie breechblock-when the breech block is seated .in -tiie'breech ofthe gun, a pressure'supply pipe for saidcham` ber, a lubricantsupply-'pipe vconnected to said pressure supply pipe, 'a valve for con-Atrolling the fluid pressure, a valve in the lubricant supply pipe, apacking ring arranged to seal the opening between ythe breech block andthe wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gascheck, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permitthe gas check to move rearwardly to allow the uid pressure to pass overthe gas check to cool the gun before the seal-formed by the packing ringis broken, and means for automatlcally opening and closing bot-hvalves;l substantially as described.

12. In a gun, a breech block seated therein and having a screw threadedengagement with the breechof the gun, a chamber in the breech of saidgun, a. portion of its walls being formed by the breech block, anannular recess in said chamber of a diameter greater than the top o fthe thre. ds in the breech of the gun, a. packing ring cated in saidrecess and arranged to seal the opening at the threaded engagementbetween the breech block andthe breech of the gun, means to supply fluidpressure to said chamber, a gas check, the breech block being arrangedto be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly toallow the fiuid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gunbefore the seal formed by the packing ring is broken; substantially asdescribed.

13. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, aportion of the walls being formed by the breech. block when the breechblock is seated in the breech of the gun, a mushroom head having aspindle, a fluid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by themovement of'the mushroom head, a packing ring arranged to seal t-heopening between the breech block and the wall of the opening in whichthe breech block is seated, means to supply fluid pressure to saidchamber, a piston connected to the spindle of the mushroom head, andmeans to admit fluid pressure back of said piston to advance themushroom head to open the port to fiush the gun; substantially asdescribed.

14. In a gun, a mushroom head having a spindle, a fiuid inlet portarranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroom head, apiston connected to the ymushroom head, means to admit Huid presthe gun,valve arranged to cut ofi the fluid pressure-Supply, and actuating moansconopen said valve; substantiallyas' described.

15. vIn a gun, a breech block, a chamberin the breech of the gun, aportion of its walls, being formed by the breech block when the` breechblock is in the breech of the gun, a packing ring arranged to seal theopening betweenv the breech block and the wall of the opening -in whichthe breech -block is seated, means to supplyluid pressure to Saidchamber, a gas check'arrauged to seal the opening between the breechblock and the breech 'of the gun and arranged to bek moved rearwardlywhen the breech block is rotated, to permit fuid pressure to pass overthe gas check into the bore of the gun, the packing ring being arrangedto seal the opening between the walls in the 'breech of the gun in whichthe breech block is seated and thebreech block during a portion of therearward movement of said breech block;

substantially las described.

16. In a breech loading gun, a removable breech block having a fluidpressure chamber therein. a mushroom head having a stem extendingthrough the breech block into said chamber and carrying a pistontherein, and means for admitting fiuid pressure behind said'pistonftogether with means for permit-ting the escape of fluid pressurefrom said chamber into the bore of the gun when said piston is moved;substantially as described.

. 17. In a breech loa-ding gun, a removable breech block having a fluidpressure chamber therein, a mushroom head having a stem projectingrearwardly into said chamber and carrying a piston therein, means foradmitting fluid pressure behind the piston, a spring arranged to returnthe piston, and air passages leading from said chamber into the interiorof the gun, said passages being normally closed bythe mushroom head;substantially as described.

18. A gun of the character described, having a rotatable breech block,means for iiushing the gun after the gun has been fired, includingpressure'means, and means actuated by the rotation of the breech blockfor supplying a lubricant to said Huid pressure means when the gun isflushed; substantially as described.

19. In a gun, a breech block. a mushroom head extending through thebreech block, Huid inlet ports arranged to be opened and closed by themovement of the mushroomhead, a fluid pressure supply pipe arranged tosupply fluid to the inlet port-s, and means to supply a lubricant tosaid fluid pressure supply pipe during the unlocking move` ment of thebreech block; substantially as described.

20. In a gun, the combination with a trolled the recoil-,o thegunarranged to l 'head and breech block, of a mushroom head located in thechamber of the gun inwardly of the breech block, and mountedforreciprocation, a gas check between the mushroom breech block, achamber at the rear of the mushroom head, and a conduit leading intosuch chamber, the port of the vconduit into the chamber being located insuch position' relatively to Vthe position of the mushroom head thatwhen the same is in engagement' with the gas check communication fromthe said conduit to the chamber of the gun will be cut off and when themushroom head is moved from the gas check such communication will beopened, and elastically yieldable means for normally retracting themushroom head and holding the same in engagement with the gas check, theelastically yieldable 4means being tensioned for'yielding to fluidpressure behind the mushroom head for permitting the fluld producingsuch pressure to pass freely from'the said conduit to ,the chamber ofthe gun.

21. In a gun-iiushing device, a fluid pres sure supply, a mushroom headmounted for movement in the gun and arranged to control the said supply,and means for causing the mushroom head to be moved by the fiuid tothereby admit fluid to the gun to flush the same, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereoLI have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM D. SMITH.

Witnesses:

l E. G. MGCARTHY,

B. G. FOSTER.

